Glossary of Botanical Terms Sign in Glossary of Botanical Terms Sourced from the following Western Australian Herbarium publications: Flora of the Perth Region, Parts I and II (1987), Flora of the Kimberley (1992) and The Western Australian Flora - A Descriptive Catalogue (2000) . A abaxial away from the axis, referring to the surface of an organ that is furthest from the axis in bud. cf. adaxial abscission the normal shedding from a plant of an organ that is mature or aged. adj. abscissile acaulescent without a stem, or with stem so short that the leaves appear basal achene a dry, 1-seeded, indehiscent fruit formed from a superior ovary of one carpel. Used to describe the fruit of the Asteraceae formed from an inferior ovary, following the definition given by De Candolle; equivalent to the term cypsela actinomorphic having radially arranged floral segments which are more or less equal in size and shape, referring to a flower, calyx or corolla. cf. zygomorphic aculeate tapering gradually to a protracted point. cf.

attenuate acute terminating in a distinct but not protracted point, the converging edges forming an angle of less than 90 degrees. cf. obtuse adaxial towards the axis, referring to the surface of an organ that is closest to the axis in bud. cf. abaxial adherent touching without organic fusion, referring to parts normally separate, e.g. floral parts of different whorls. cf. adnate , coherent , connate adnate fused to an organ of a different kind, e.g. a stamen fused to a petal or an anther fused for its whole length to the filament. Also used to describe the type of anther in some eucalypts which is basifixed, immobile and about as wide as long. cf. adherent , coherent , connate adpressed lying close to another organ but not fused to it. See appressed adventitious arising in abnormal positions, e.g.

roots arising from the shoot system, buds arising elsewhere than in the axils of leaves alien with a shape different from the typical shape alluvium deposits of earth, sand, etc., left by water flowing over land that is not permanently submerged alternate borne singly and spaced around and along the axis, applied to leaves or other organs on an axis. Also used to describe the position of floral parts of different whorls on different radii, e.g. stamens with respect to petals. cf. opposite amphibious capable of living on or in water or on drying soil. Frequently an amphibious plant has a different form in different habitats amplexicaul connecting with one another, particularly applied to veins ancipitous having male flowers and bisexual flowers on separate plants. cf. gynodioecious androecium the male part of a flower; a collective term for the stamens of one flower androgynous having male and female flowers in distinct parts of the same inflorescence andromonoecious having male flowers and bisexual flowers on the same plant. cf. gynomonoecious angiosperm a division of seed plants with the ovules borne in an ovary. cf.

gymnosperm annual completing the full cycle of germination to fruiting within a single year and then dying. cf. biennial , perennial annular arranged in or forming a ring anther that part of the stamen in which the pollen is produced anthesis the period that a flower is open, i.e. between the opening of the bud and the onset of withering anthocarp a false fruit consisting of the true fruit and the base of the floral whorls antrorse a short, sharp, flexible point. adj. apiculate appressed pressed closely to another organ but not united aquatic a plant living in or on water for all or a substantial part of its life span. cf. terrestrial arborescent resembling a tree; applied to non-woody plants attaining tree height and to shrubs tending to become tree-like in size aril a fleshy to hard structure which develops from the funicle or ovule after fertilisation and encloses all or part of the seed. adj.

arillate aristate having a stiff, bristle-like tip aristulate having a small, stiff, bristle-like tip; a diminutive of aristate articulate jointed; usually fracturing easily at the nodes or point of articulation into segments or articles ascending arched upwards in the lower part and becoming erect in the upper part. cf. decumbent , procumbent attenuate tapering gradually. cf. acuminate auricle an ear shaped appendage at the base of a leaf, leaflet or corolla lobe; or an ear-like outgrowth at the base of the sheath of some grasses and other monocots. adj. auriculate, also used to describe a leaf base which has lobes on both sides of the petiole autotrophic self feeding, not depending on parasitism or entirely on organic matter. cf. heterotrophic awn a slender, bristle-like projection, e.g. from the back or tip of the glumes and lemmas in some grasses and on the fruit of some Geraniaceae . adj. awned axil the angle between one part of a plant and another part, e.g. a branch and a leaf. adj.

axillary axis main stem of the plant or the flower-bearing portion of an inflorescence or the ovule-bearing structure in ovaries with axile placentation B bearded, having tufts of hairs barbellae short, stiff, hair-like bristles. adj. barbellate basal arising from or positioned at the base beak a prominent terminal projection, especially of a carpel or fruit. adj. beaked berry a fleshy or pulpy indehiscent fruit with the seed(s) embedded in the fleshy tissue of the pericarp biconvex convex on both sides biennial completing the full cycle of germination to fruiting in more than one, but not more than two years, and then dying bifoliolate doubly serrate; with smaller regular, asymmetric teeth on the margins of larger teeth bisexual having both sexes, as in a flower bearing both fertile anthers and a fertile ovary. cf. unisexual biternate lamina; part of the leaf above the sheath or petiole bract a leaf-like structure, usually different in form from the foliage leaves, associated with an inflorescence or flower. adj.

bracteate bracteole a small bract-like structure borne singly or in a pair on the pedicel or calyx of a flower. adj. bracteolate broadly having a length:breadth ratio between 6:5 and 1:1; if the ratio is less then the shape is described as very broadly. cf. narrowly bulb a modified underground axis that is short and crowned by a mass of usually fleshy, imbricate scales. adj. bulbous bulbil a small bulb produced on aerial parts such as a leaf axil or an inflorescence burr a partial infructescence, often prickly or rough, as in some Amaranthaceae and Asteraceae buttress supporting outgrowth from base of a tree trunk as in some Rhizophoraceae and Moraceae C falling early before associated organs are mature. cf. deciduous , persistent caespitose growing densely in tufts; having short, closely packed stems calcareous composed of or containing lime or limestone callus see callosity callosity a thickened, raised mass of hardened tissue, often formed after an injury but sometimes a normal feature, e.g.

the glandular wart-like structures on the labellum of some orchids, or in grasses, the hardened, usually hairy base of the dispersal unit, usually a floret or whole spikelet. pl. calli, callosities. adj. callose calyptra hooded or lidded calyx the outermost floral whorl usually consisting of sepals or a calyx tube and calyx lobes. adj. calycine calyx lobe one of the free upper parts of the calyx which may be present when the lower part is united into a tube calyx tube the tubular, often cup shaped or bell shaped, fused part of the calyx when it is free from the corolla. cf. floral tube campanulate a 3-dimensional shape; bell shaped canescent grey or white in colour due to a covering of short, fine grey or white hairs capitate growing together in a head. Also meaning head-like as in some stigmas capitulum a dense cluster of sessile, or almost sessile, flowers or florets capsule a dry fruit formed from two or more united carpels and dehiscing at maturity to release the seeds. adj.

capsular carpel an organ, generally believed to be leaf-derived, which bears 1 or more ovules, a stigma and sometimes a style. Often much modified in a syncarpous ovary. adj. carpellary caryopsis the grass fruit, which has the seed coat united with the ovary wall caudate having a narrow, tail-like appendage caulescent having an obvious aerial stem cauliflorus of flowers and fruits, borne on old wood cauline borne on the aerial part of a stem. cf. radical chartaceous describing flowers in which pollination takes place while the flower is open. cf. cleistogamous ciliate a straight, usually erect hair on a margin or ridge. pl. cilia circinnate spirally coiled, with the tip innermost circumscissile opening by a transverse line around the circumference cladode the modified photosynthetic stem of a plant whose foliage leaves are absent or much reduced. cf.

phyllode , phylloclade clavate a 3-dimensional shape; club shaped; thickened at one end claw the conspicuously narrowed basal part of a flat organ cleistogamous describing flowers which are self-pollinating and set fertile seed without the flower opening. cf. chasmogamous climber growing more or less erect by leaning or twining around another structure cline a character gradient over a geographical area where one or several morphological features gradually change over a part or over the whole distribution area. adj. clinal coccus one of the segments of a distinctly lobed fruit which becomes separate at maturity. Sometimes called a mericarp. pl. cocci coherent touching without organic fusion, referring to parts normally together, e.g. floral parts of the same whorl. cf. adherent , adnate , connate column a structure formed by the united style, stigma and stamen(s), as in Asclepiadaceae , Stylidiaceae and Orchidaceae complicate consisting of two or more anatomically or morphologically equivalent units compressed uniformly coloured, as in upper and lower surfaces. cf.

discolorous conduplicate folded together lengthwise cone a reproductive structure composed of an axis (branch) bearing sterile bract-like organs and seed or pollen bearing structures. Strictly refers to the Gymnospermae or Lycopodiales but frequently used for the fruiting spike in Casuarinaceae and flowering and fruiting structure in some Proteaceae conic a 3-dimensional shape; cone shaped, attached at the broader end connate fused to another organ of the same kind. cf. adherent , adnate , coherent connective the tissue separating two lobes of an anther conspecific within or belonging to the same species contiguous neighbouring parts being in contact but not fusing convolute an arrangement of petals in a bud where each has one side overlapping the neighbouring petal cordate a 2-dimensional shape; heart shaped in outline, i.e. having the base broad and distinctly notched coriaceous leathery corm a very short, broad, firm-fleshed, subterranean stem which produces aerial stems, leaves and flowers. adj.

cormous cormel a miniature corm produced in leaf axils corolla the floral whorl inside the calyx, usually consisting of petals or a corolla tube and corolla lobes. adj. corolline coroniform crown shaped, as in the pappus of Asteraceae which may be coroniform when the membranous scales are connate corymb an inflorescence, usually a raceme, in which the flowers, through unequal pedicels, are in one horizontal plane. adj. corymbose costa a thickened, linear ridge or the midrib of the pinna in ferns. adj. costate cotyledon the primary ("seed") leaf, each seedling having one or two, rarely more crenate with obtuse or rounded teeth which either point forwards or are perpendicular to the margin crenulate minutely crenate crisped very strongly undulate; margins which are wavy in a vertical plane, the waves themselves with secondary waves. cf.

undulate crustaceous hard, thin and brittle culm the aerial stem of grasses, sedges, rushes and other monocots, bearing the cauline leaves and the inflorescence cultivar cultivated variety; an assemblage of cultivated individuals distinguished by any characters significant for the purposes of agriculture, forestry or horticulture, and which, when reproduced, retains its distinguishing features cuneate a 2-dimensional shape; obtriangular, i.e. wedge shaped cusp an elongated, usually rigid, acute point. cf. mucro cuspidate somewhat abruptly and sharply concave and constricted into a cusp. cf. mucronate cuspidulate constricted into a minute cusp. cf. cuspidate cylindric a 3-dimensional shape; tubular or rod shaped with a length:breadth ratio of 2:1 to 3:2. cf. narrowly , broadly cymbiform boat shaped cyme an inflorescence in which each flower, in turn, is formed at the tip of a growing axis, further flowers being formed on branches arising below. adj.

cymose D decorticate to remove the bark, rind or husk from; to strip of its bark; to come off as a skin decumbent spreading horizontally with the apex growing upwards, referring to stems. cf. ascending , procumbent decurrent having the leaf base prolonged down the stem as a winged expansion or rib decussate having paired organs with successive pairs at right angles to give four rows deflexed breaking open at maturity to release the contents. cf. indehiscent dendritic branching from a main stem or axis; resembling the branching of a tree dentate with sharp, spreading, rather coarse teeth standing out from the margin denticulate finely dentate depressed flattened as if pressed down from the top or end; applied to 2 or 3-dimensional shapes, e.g. ovate and obovate or ovoid and obovoid which have a length:breadth ratio of less than 2:3 dichasium a cyme in which the branches are opposite and approximately equal. pl. dichasia. adj. dichasial dichotomous divided almost equally into two parts digitate having parts arranged like the fingers on a hand dimorphic with two forms, e.g.

having stamens of two different lengths or having two kinds of leaves. cf. uniform dioecious having male and female unisexual flowers on different plants. cf. monoecious disc the usually disc shaped receptacle of the head in Asteraceae . Also the fleshy nectariferous organ which is sometimes annular or lobed and developed usually between the stamens and ovary. Also used for the enlarged style-end in Proteaceae disc floret a tubular 4 or 5-toothed or lobed floret on the disc of an inflorescence, i.e. head of Asteraceae disciform describing an inflorescence, i.e. head of Asteraceae with central disc florets and marginal female florets which have a reduced inconspicuous slender tubular corolla without a ligule; or an inflorescence with only such reduced female florets. cf. discoid , radiate discoid resembling a disc; a solid structure with two convex faces. Used in the Asteraceae to describe a head which has only disc florets present. cf. disciform , radiate discolorous having two colours, e.g.

the lower leaf surface distinctly different in colour from the upper. cf. concolorous distal end of any structure farthest from the point of attachment. cf. proximal distichous two-ranked, arranged in two diametrically opposite rows divaricate widely spreading drupe a 1-celled fruit with one or two seeds enclosed by a stony layer (endocarp) which is embedded in succulent tissue (mesocarp) surrounded by a thin outer skin (epicarp). adj. drupaceous duricrust bearing stiff, stout, prickly hairs eglandular without glands. cf. glandular ellipsoid a 3-dimensional shape; elliptic in outline and with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1. cf. narrowly , broadly elliptic a 2-dimensional shape; oval in outline and with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1. cf. narrowly , broadly elongate having a broad, shallow notch at the apex. cf. retuse endemic having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographical region endocarp the innermost layer of the fruit wall, derived from the innermost layer of the carpel wall. cf.

exocarp , mesocarp , pericarp entire without any incisions or teeth ephemeral a whorl of bracts, just below or joined to the calyx, resembling a second calyx epicormic a plant growing on, but not parasitic on, another plant, e.g. some Orchidaceae . adj. epiphytic erect upright; perpendicular exocarp the outermost layer of the fruit wall, derived from the outermost layer of the carpel wall. Sometimes called epicarp. cf. endocarp , mesocarp , pericarp exserted protruding beyond some enclosing organ, e.g. referring to stamens which project beyond the corolla or perianth, or to valves which extend beyond the rim of a capsular fruit. Sometimes the stamens are not actually longer than the corolla or perianth but are exserted due to the spreading of the segments. cf. included exstipulate without stipules. cf. stipulate extrorse turned outwards or away from the axis. In the case of anthers, dehiscing longitudinally outwards. cf. introrse , latrorse eye a distinctly pigmented area, e.g.

a brightly coloured spot, usually near the centre of the standard of some flowers of Papilionaceae ; also refers to the scale-like leaves and dormant axillary buds of a tuber F provided with functional sexual parts which are capable of fertilisation and seed production. cf. sterile filament the stalk of a stamen below the point of attachment to the anther filiform zig-zagging, often referring to a stem floccose covered with tufts of soft woolly hairs that usually rub off readily floral tube the part of the flower enveloping an ovary and formed by the fusion of the calyx tube, corolla tube and sometimes stamen filaments and receptacle.

Variously referred to elsewhere as calyx tube, perigynium or hypanthium floret one of the small individual flowers of the Asteraceae or the reduced flower of the grasses, including the lemma and palea flower the sexual reproductive structure of the angiosperms, typically consisting of gynoecium, androecium and perianth or calyx and/or corolla and the axis bearing these parts foliar used with a number prefix to denote the number of leaflets foliose a dry fruit, derived from a single carpel and dehiscing along one suture forb the leaf of a fern or cycad fruit seed-bearing structure formed from the ripened ovary after flowering fusiform a 3-dimensional shape; spindle shaped, i.e. is circular in cross-section and tapering at both ends G gametophyte a plant bearing sexual organs; in ferns a small discrete plant, very different from the sporophyte, also known as the prothallus. cf. sporophyte geophyte a plant with an underground storage organ, e.g.

a tuber, bulb or rhizome, and with an annually renewed aerial shoot gilgai without hairs gland a secretory structure, e.g. a nectary, extra-floral nectary or a gland tipped, hair-like or wart-like organ. adj. glandular. cf. eglandular glaucous blue-green in colour, with a whitish bloom globular a 3-dimensional shape; spherical or orbicular; circular in outline glume one of the two bracts at the base of the grass spikelet, called the lower and upper glumes, due to their position on the rachilla. Also used in Apiaceae , Cyperaceae for the very small bracts on the spikelet in which each flower is subtended by one floral glume and in which there are often several empty glumes at the base. adj.

glumaceous gneiss a metamorphic rock composed, like granite, of quartz, feldspar or orthoclase, and mica but distinguished from it by its foliated or laminated structure gymnosperm a member of the division of seed plants with the ovules and hence seeds, borne on a sporophyll or cone scale, and not borne in an ovary. cf. angiosperm gynoecium the female part of a flower; a collective term for the carpel or carpels gynomonoecious having female flowers and bisexual flowers on each individual plant. cf. andromonoecious gypsum hydreous calcium sulphate, resembling chalk H the growth form of a plant, comprising its size, shape, texture and stem orientation halophyte a plant adapted to living in highly saline habitats; a plant that accumulates high concentrations of salt in its tissues. adj. halophytic hastate with a pair of basal lobes which flare outwards; refers to a flat organ, most commonly a leaf herb a plant which is non-woody or woody at the base only, the above ground stems usually being ephemeral. adj. herbaceous, q.v.

herbaceous herb-like; often applied to bracts, bracteoles or floral parts that are green and soft in texture hermaphrodite bisexual, bearing flowers with both androecium and gynoecium in the same flower. adj. hermaphroditic heterogamous bearing separate male and female flowers or florets in an inflorescence or flower head, e.g. some Asteraceae in which the ray florets may be neuter or unisexual and the disk florets may be bisexual. cf. homogamous heteromorphous with two or more distinct forms. cf. homomorphous heterosporous producing spores of 2 sizes, the larger giving rise to megagametophytes (female), the smaller giving rise to microgametophytes (male). Applied to the ferns and fern allies. cf.

homosporous hirsute with long and rather coarse or stiff hairs, the hairs being less rigid and erect than when referred to as hispid hispid with stout, rigid or bristly, erect hairs hoary covered with a greyish layer of very short, closely interwoven hairs homochromous of the same colour; usually used to describe those Asteraceae that bear a 1-coloured inflorescence, i.e. head, the disc and ray florets being the same colour. cf. heterochromous homogamous bearing one kind of flower unit rather than separate male and female flower units, e.g. some Asteraceae where all of the florets in an inflorescence or flower head are bisexual. cf. heterogamous homomorphous uniform, with only one form. cf. heteromorphous homosporous producing spores of the same size and sex. Applied to the ferns and fern allies. cf. heterosporous hybrid the offspring of the sexual union of plants belonging to different taxa hydrophilous water loving; requiring water in order to be fertilized, referring to many aquatic plants hypanthium closely packed and overlapping. cf.

valvate imparipinnate pinnately compound with a single terminal leaflet and hence with an odd number of leaflets. cf. paripinnate incised cut jaggedly with very deep teeth included not protruding beyond some enclosing organ, e.g. stamens which do not project beyond the corolla or to valves which do not extend beyond the rim of a capsular fruit. cf. exserted incurved curved inward; curved towards the base or apex indefinite numerous and variable in number indehiscent not opening or splitting to release the contents at maturity. cf. dehiscent indumentum the type of hairiness commonly found on external parts of plants. cf. vestiture indurate hardened, often the hardening developed only at maturity indusium tissue covering the sorus of a fern. Also used for the modified style end or pollen-cup of some Goodeniaceae (including Brunoniaceae ). adj. indusiate inferior a flower in which the ovary is fused with the floral tube and the sepals, petals and stamens are inserted above most of the ovary. cf. superior inflated enlarged and hollow except in the case of a fruit which may contain a seed. cf.

swollen inflexed bent or turned downwards, towards the axis inflorescence the arrangement of flowers in relation to the axis and to each other internode the part of an axis between two successive nodes, joints or point of attachment of the leaves intricate not indigenous; not native to the area in which it now occurs introrse turned inwards or towards the axis. In the case of anthers, dehiscing longitudinally inwards. cf.

extrorse , latrorse involucre a large bract or whorl of bracts surrounding a flower or an entire inflorescence involute with the margins inrolled on the upper (adaxial) surface, referring to a leaf or other flat organ ironstone the name given to various hard iron-ores containing admixtures of silica, clay, etc J of a pinnate leaf; having leaflets in pairs juvenile young or immature, used here for leaves formed on a young plant which are different in morphology from those formed on an older plant K a fine white clay produced by the decomposition of feldspar keel a boat shaped structure, with a prominent longitudinal ridge, or, in the Papilionaceae , the part of the corolla formed by the fusion of the lower edge of the two abaxial petals. adj. keeled. cf. standard , wing L labellum the usually modified, adaxial, inner perianth segment of the orchid flower which by torsion of the ovary is usually abaxial laciniate fringed; having slender, narrow, pointed lobes lamina the usually flattened blade of a leaf or frond.

Also used here for the limb, the flattened part of the ligulate floret of Asteraceae . pl. laminae lanate covered with long hairs which are loosely curled together like wool lanceolate lance shaped, much longer than wide, the widest point below the middle laterite a red, porous, ferruginous rock latex a milky, clear or sometimes coloured sap of diverse composition found in some plants latrorse turned sideways, i.e. not towards or away from the axis. In the case of anthers, dehiscing longitudinally on the side. cf. extrorse , introrse leaflet one of the ultimate segments of a compound leaf lemma the lower of two bracts of a grass floret, usually enclosing the palea, lodicules, stamens and ovary lenticel a lens shaped dot or pit on young bark, through which gaseous exchange may occur lenticular shaped like a biconvex lens liane a woody climbing or twining plant lignotuber a woody, usually underground, rootstock often giving rise to numerous aerial stems ligulate small and tongue shaped or with a little tongue shaped appendage or ligule, q.v.

Also applied to the florets of the Asteraceae which have a single small tongue shaped corolla lobe ligule outgrowth from the inner junction of the grass leaf sheath and blade, often membranous, sometimes represented by a fringe of hairs. Also a small, membranous, triangular organ on the adaxial side of the fertile leaf base in Isoetes or the narrow, upper part of a reduced petal in some Sterculiaceae or the single corolla lobe of a floret of Asteraceae . cf. ligulate limb the expanded portion of a flat organ above the claw. Also used here for the expanded portion of the calyx tube or the corolla tube, e.g. in the Apiaceae and Solanaceae linear a 2-dimensional shape: narrowly rectangular with parallel sides and a length:breadth ratio of at least 12:1 linguiform tongue shaped lobe a usually rounded or pointed projecting part, usually one of two or more, each separated by a fissure or sinus. The terms calyx lobe, corolla lobe and floral lobe are used here for the projections of the calyx, corolla or floral tube. cf.

segment loose lax or not crowded; with distant or scattered units lyrate pinnately lobed, with the terminal lobe the largest and the laterals progressively smaller towards the base M mallee a growth habit in which several to many woody stems arise separately from a lignotuber; usually applied to certain low-growing species of Eucalyptus mangrove coastal trees or shrubs subject to periodic tidal inundation, rarely occurring in fresh water, often with modified roots, often viviparous; plant community in tidal stretches of the mouth of some rivers containing mangrove species margin (in leaves); the edge of the leaf blade megasporangium the sporangium containing megaspores. cf. microsporangium megaspore the large spore which may develop into the female gametophyte in heterosporous ferns and fern allies. cf. microspore mericarp a 1-seeded portion of an initially syncarpous fruit which splits apart at maturity, e.g. in the Apiaceae . Sometimes called a coccus, q.v. -merous used with a number prefix to denote the basic number of the 3 outer floral whorls, e.g.

a 5-merous flower may have 5 sepals, 10 petals and 15 stamens mesocarp the middle layer of the fruit wall derived from the middle layer of the carpel wall. cf. endocarp , exocarp , pericarp microsporangium the sporangium containing microspores. cf. megasporangium microspore a small spore which gives rise to the male gametophyte in heterosporous pteridophytes. Also used by some authors for a pollen grain. cf. megaspore midvein the main vascular supply of a simple leaf blade or lamina minni-ritchi bark reddish bark exfoliating in narrow, curled strips. Usually only applied to certain species of Acacia or Eucalyptus monoecious having both male and female unisexual flowers on the same individual plant. cf. dioecious monopodial with a persistent terminal growing point producing many lateral organs progressively. cf. sympodial monotypic of a genus with one species or a family with one genus; in general, applied to any taxon with only one immediately subordinate taxon mucilage a soft, moist, viscous secretion.

adj. mucilaginous mucous a stiff or sharp, short projection of the midvein abruptly terminating an organ. cf. cusp mucronate abruptly tipped with a mucro, accompanied or not by a small amount of leaf tissue. cf. cuspidate , muticous mucronulate with a very small mucro; a diminutive of mucronate muricate with numerous short hard outgrowths. cf. papillose muriculate with numerous minute hard outgrowths; a diminutive of muricate muticous blunt, lacking awn or point. cf.

mucronate N narrowly having a length:breadth ratio between 3:1 and 6:1; if the ratio is more than 6:1 then the shape is described as very narrowly, except in the case of very narrowly oblong which is termed linear native a plant indigenous to the locality nectariferous having one or more nectaries nectary a secretory organ producing nectar; commonly in a flower, sometimes on leaves, fronds or stems nut dry indehiscent 1-celled fruit with a hard pericarp O prefix meaning inversely or opposite to obconic a 3-dimensional shape; cone shaped, attached at the narrower end obcordate a 2-dimensional shape; broad and notched at the tip; heart shaped but attached at the pointed end obdeltate a 2-dimensional shape; deltate with the broadest part at the apex oblong a 2-dimensional shape; rectangular with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1. cf.

narrowly , broadly obovate a 2-dimensional shape: similar to ovate but attached at the narrower end and with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1. cf. narrowly , broadly obpyramidal a 3-dimensional shape; resembling a 4-sided pyramid attached at the apex with the square base facing away from the attachment obpyriform a 3-dimensional shape; resembling a pear which is attached at the narrower end. cf. pyriform obspathulate a 2-dimensional shape; resembling a spoon attached at the broadest end and with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1. cf. spathulate obtriangular a 2-dimensional shape; triangular, attached at the apex and with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1. cf. triangular obtrullate a 2-dimensional shape; resembling a trowel blade with the broadest axis above the middle and a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1. cf.

narrowly , broadly , trullate obtuse blunt or rounded at the apex, the converging edges separated by an angle greater than 90 degrees. cf. acute -oid suffix denoting a 3-dimensional shape operculum a lid or cover becoming detached at maturity by abscission, e.g. in Eucalyptus, a cap covering the bud and formed by fusion or cohesion of sepals and/or petals. adj. operculate opposite describing leaves or other organs which are borne at the same level but on opposite sides of the stem; of floral parts, on the same radius. cf. alternate orbicular of circular outline order a classificatory rank intermediate between class and family, i.e.

a group of families believed to be closely related or sometimes a single family with no apparent close relatives orifice an opening or aperture such as that of a cup shaped receptacle or the summit of a leaf sheath in grasses and sedges ovary the basal portion of a carpel or group of fused carpels, enclosing the ovule(s) ovate a 2-dimensional shape; resembling a section through the long axis of an egg, attached near the broader end and with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1. cf. narrowly , broadly ovoid a 3-dimensional shape; egg shaped; ovate in outline ovule the organ in the ovary which becomes a seed after fertilisation. adj. ovular ovulode a sterile reduced ovule borne on the placenta, commonly occurring in Myrtaceae P palate a raised appendage on the lower lip of a corolla which partially or completely closes the throat palea the upper of the two bracts of a grass floret, usually enclosing the lodicules, stamens and ovary. pl. paleae. adj. paleal. cf.

lemma paleochannel pale palmate describing a leaf which is divided into several leaflets which arise from the same point. adj. palmately panduriform a 2-dimensional shape; fiddle shaped panicle a compound raceme; an indeterminate inflorescence in which the flowers are borne on branches of the main axis or on further branches of these. adj. paniculate papilionaceous pea-flowered; flowers which are zygomorphic with imbricate petals, one broad upper one, two narrower lateral ones and two narrower lower ones, the latter usually coherent or connate by their margins; the flowers of Papilionaceae papilla a small protuberance on the surface of an organ being an extension of one epidermal cell. pl. papillae. adj. papillose. cf. muricate pappus a tuft (or ring) of hairs, bristles or scales borne above the ovary and outside the corolla in Asteraceae and possibly representing the calyx; often persisting as a tuft of hairs on a fruit. adj. pappose paripinnate pinnate with an even number of leaflets and without a terminal leaflet.

A tendril may be terminal on the leaf. cf. imparipinnate -partite divided almost to the base into segments, the number of segments given as a prefix patent spreading, diverging from the axis almost at right angles pectinate pinnatifid with narrow segments set closely like the teeth of a comb pedicel the stalk of an individual flower. In a single-flowered inflorescence, may refer to a peduncle, or both peduncle and pedicel when undifferentiated. Also used here for the stalk of a spikelet in Poaceae . adj. pedicellate peduncle the stalk of an inflorescence. adj. pedunculate pellucid clear, transparent or nearly so peltate attached to the stalk at a point within the margin, i.e. on the lower surface pendulous drooping; of ovules, attached at the top of the ovary and hanging downwards from an apical placenta penniveined with a life span extending over more than two growing seasons. cf.

annual , biennial perfoliate with basal lobes united and encircling the stem, commonly referring to a leaf where the stem runs through the leaf base perianth the outer floral whorl or whorls of a monocotyledonous flower, sometimes divisible into outer and inner perianth segments. Sometimes used by other authors to describe the floral whorl of a dicotyledonous flower when it is uncertain if the whorl is calycine or corolline in origin or used as a collective term for calyx and corolla pericarp the wall of a fruit developed from the ovary wall. Composed of the exocarp , mesocarp and endocarp persistent remaining attached; not falling off. cf. caducous petal free segment of the corolla. adj. petaline. cf. lobe petiolar the stalk of a leaf. adj. petiolate petiolule the stalk of a leaflet. adj. petiolulate phylloclade a cladode which is green and leaf-like with the true leaves represented by scales phyllode a leaf whose blade is much reduced or absent and whose petiole has assumed the functions of the whole leaf. adj.

phyllodineous, cf. cladode piliferous bearing or producing hair, usually referring to an organ with the apex having long, hair-like extensions pilose with slightly stiffened distinct hairs ascending from the surface pindan vegetation consisting of a lower storey of grasses, a middle storey of dense Acacia thickets and a sparse upper layer of trees up to 15 m high pinna a primary segment of the blade of a compound leaf or frond. pl. pinnae pinnate with the same arrangement as a feather; divided into pinnae; once-compound pinnatifid lobed approximately halfway to midrib. If divided almost to the midrib, then described as deeply pinnatifid or pinnatisect, q.v. pinnatisect lobed almost to base or midrib pinnule a leaflet of a bipinnate leaf placenta the region within the ovary to which ovules are attached plano- a prefix meaning level; flat plicate like a feather; with fine hairs arising laterally from a central axis pneumatophore modified root which allows gaseous exchange in mud-dwelling shrubs, e.g.

mangroves pod a dry 1-many-seeded dehiscent fruit. Commonly applied to the fruits of Caesalpiniaceae , Mimosaceae and Papilionaceae polygamous with unisexual and bisexual flowers on the same or on different individuals of the same species polymorphic with many morphological variants procumbent trailing or spreading along the ground but not rooting at the nodes, referring to stems. cf. ascending , decumbent , erect prostrate lying flat on the ground proximal end of any structure closest to the point of attachment. cf. distal pruinose with a frosty surface; having a thick, waxy, powdery coating pseudocarp a false fruit, largely made up of a fleshy receptacle pteridophyte a vascular plant which reproduces by spores; the ferns and fern allies puberulent, puberulous covered with very short fine straight erect hairs pubescent covered with short, soft hairs pulvinus an enlargement below the base of a leaf or leaflet in which changes of turgidity enable the leaf or leaflets to droop or fold.

Also a glandular swelling in the axils of the inflorescence axis and primary branches of some grasses. adj. pulvinate punctate marked with dots, e.g. the clear-coloured oil glands of a leaf of Rutaceae and Myrtaceae punctulate marked with minute dots; a diminutive of punctate pungent ending in a rigid, sharp point pyrene the "stone" or "pit" of a drupe, consisting of the hardened endocarp and seed pyriform a 3-dimensional shape; resembling a pear, attached at the broader end. cf. obpyriform Q an extremely compact, granular rock, consisting essentially of quartz R an indeterminate inflorescence with a simple, elongated axis and pedicellate flowers. adj.

racemose rachilla the main axis of a grass spikelet rachis the main axis of the spike or other inflorescence of grasses; the axis of a pinna in a bipinnate leaf radiate arranged around a common centre; used here especially to describe an inflorescence of Asteraceae with marginal, female or neuter, ligulate ray-florets and central, perfect or functionally male, tubular, disc florets. cf. disciform , discoid ray the marginal portion of the inflorescence of Asteraceae and Apiaceae when distinct from the disc. Also, the axis or branches of a compound umbel in some Apiaceae , Cyperaceae and Apiaceae , Loranthaceae receptacle the region at the end of a pedicel or on an axis which bears one or more flowers. In the Asteraceae the receptacle may be quite large. adj. receptacular recurved a 2-dimensional shape; kidney shaped in outline resinous forming a network or reticulum retrorse bent or directed downwards or backwards. cf. antrorse retuse with a very blunt and slightly notched apex. cf.

emarginate revolute with the margins inrolled on the lower (abaxial) surface rhizome a creeping stem, usually below ground, consisting of a series of nodes and internodes with adventitious roots. adj. rhizomatous rhizophore a stilt-like extension of the stem which branches into roots on contact with the substrate rhombic a 2-dimensional shape; diamond shaped in outline with the broadest axis in the middle and with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1. cf. quadrate-rhombic , narrowly rib a distinct vein or linear marking, often raised as a linear ridge rosette a tuft of leaves or other organs resembling the arrangement of petals in a rose, ranging in form from a hemispherical tuft to a flat whorl. adj. rosetted, rosulate rostrate beaked; the apex narrowed into a slender, usually obtuse point rostrum a beak-like extension rotate wheel shaped; applied to a corolla with a very short tube and a broad upper part which is flared at right angles to the tube. cf.

salverform rugose finely wrinkled; a diminutive of rugose S arrow shaped, with a pair of large, acute or rounded, usually overlapping lobes samara an indehiscent, winged, dry fruit scabrous the stem-like flowering stalk of a plant with radical leaves. adj. scapose scapigerous a crystalline rock whose component minerals are arranged in a more or less parallel manner schistose laminated; having a formation resembling a schist schizocarp a usually dry fruit which splits longitudinally into indehiscent or tardily dehiscent parts (mericarps or cocci) sedge a plant of the family Apiaceae , Cyperaceae segment a free or almost free part or subdivision of an organ. Calyx and corolla segments are called sepals and petals respectively. In the case of undifferentiated dicotyledonous flowers, the segments are called floral segments. cf. lobe sepal free segment of the calyx. adj. sepaline septum a partition or cross wall. A term for the sterile structure separating the seeds in a mature fruit of Banksia. pl. septa. adj.

septate sericeous silky; covered with close-pressed, fine, straight silky hairs serrate toothed so as to resemble a saw; with regular, asymmetric teeth pointing forward sessile a bristle or stiff hair. pl. setae. adj. setose, setaceous setiform with minute bristles; a diminutive of setose sheathing clasping or enveloping the stem shrub a woody plant usually less than 5 m high and many-branched without a distinct main stem except at ground level. cf. undershrub silicula a broad, dry, usually dehiscent fruit derived from two or more carpels which usually dehisce along two sutures and which has a persistent partition after dehiscence. cf. siliqua siliqua a silicula which is at least twice as long as broad simple not divided, e.g. applied to a leaf not divided into leaflets. cf. compound sinuate with deep wave-like indentations in a horizontal plane along the margin. cf. repand skeletal (soils) usually used to describe flowers which are borne singly, and not grouped into an inflorescence sorus a discrete aggregate of sporangia in ferns. pl.

sori spadix a spike-like inflorescence with an unbranched, usually thickened axis and small embedded flowers, the whole structure often surrounded by a spathe. pl. spadices spathe a large bract ensheathing an inflorescence or its peduncle. adj. spathaceous spatheate like or with a spathe spathulate spoon shaped; broad at the tip and narrowed towards the base spiculate an unbranched inflorescence of sessile flowers or spikelets. adj. spicate, spiciform spikelet the grass flowerhead, generally composed of 2 glumes and one or more florets. Also used for the small spike-like inflorescence or inflorescence units commonly found in Apiaceae , Cyperaceae and Restionaceae spine a stiff, sharp, pointed structure, formed by modification of a plant organ. adj. spinose spinescent ending in a spine; modified to form a spine spinulose with small spines over the surface sporangium a spore bearing structure used here particularly for ferns, fern allies and gymnosperms. pl. sporangia. adj.

sporangial sporocarp a stalked fruit case, formed from modified sporophylls, containing sporangia or spores, e.g. in Marsilea sporophyll a leaf or bract which bears or subtends sporangia in the fern allies, ferns and gymnosperms spur a pouch-like short to slender, usually hollow extension of some part, usually of a flower squarrose with spreading rigid processes, e.g. the tips of bracts or leaves stamen one of the male organs of a flower, consisting typically of a stalk (filament) and a pollen-bearing portion (anther). adj. staminal, staminate staminode a stamen without pollen; often lacking an anther, often reduced in size, sometimes elaborated in structure. adj. staminodial standard the usually adaxial petal in the flower of Papilionaceae . cf. keel , wing stellate star shaped, usually referring to hairs with radiating branches stem the main axis or a branch of the main axial system of a plant, developed from the plumule of the embryo and typically bearing leaves sterile lacking any functional sexual parts which are capable of fertilisation and seed production. cf.

fertile stigma the usually papillate or glandular part of the style which receives the pollen. adj. stigmatic stilt root a supporting root arising from the stem some distance above the ground as in some mangroves, sometimes also known as a prop root stipe a stalk or support such as the petiole of a frond or the stalk of an ovary or fruit stipel stipule-like appendage at the base of a leaflet (in unifoliolate leaves, inserted on the petiole, not on the stem). pl. stipellae. adj. stipellate stipitate having a stalk or stipe, usually of an ovary or fruit. cf. sessile stipule one of a pair of leaf-like, scale-like or bristle-like structures inserted at the base or on the petiole of a leaf or phyllode. adj. stipulate, cf. exstipulate stolon the creeping stem of a rosetted or tufted plant, giving rise to another plant at its tip, or in Drosera a vertical underground stem connecting the tuber with the above ground parts and bearing adventitious roots. adj.

stoloniferous striae parallel longitudinal lines or ridges. adj. striate strobilus a cone-like structure formed from sporophylls or sporangiophores. pl. strobili style the usually narrowed, elongated part of a carpel or group of fused carpels, between the ovary and stigma sub- a prefix meaning nearly or almost, as in subcapitate or subequal subspecies taxon differing in minor morphological characters such as size or shape of parts, and either partially or completely isolated by means of geographic, ecologic or other barriers substrate growing on ground; not aquatic tessellate with colours or shades arranged in small squares so as to give a chequered appearance testa a seed coat tomentose covered with not very long cottony hairs, more or less felted together, shorter and less dense than lanate transverse broader than long; applied to 2 or 3-dimensional shapes, e.g.

elliptic and oblong or ellipsoid and obovoid which have a length:breadth ratio of less than 5:6 trapeziform a plane, asymmetric shape with four straight sides of unequal length tree a woody plant usually over 5 m high and with an unbranched lower axis triad a group of three; used to describe the 3-flowered umbels found in some Loranthaceae triangular a 2-dimensional shape; 3-angled and 3-sided with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1. cf.

narrowly , broadly , deltate tribe a category intermediate in rank between subfamily and genus trichotomous divided almost equally into three parts tridentate a leaf having three leaflets trifurcate with 3 terminal, long lobes trigonous obtusely 3-angled; triangular in cross-section with plane faces tripinnate pinnately compound three times, with pinnate pinnules triquetrous acutely 3-angled; triangular in cross-section with concave faces and each corner projected outwards so that the organ has three distinct longitudinal ridges trullate a 2-dimensional shape; resembling a trowel blade, i.e. with 4 straight sides with the axis broadest below the middle and a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1. cf. narrowly , broadly , obtrullate truncate with an abruptly transverse end as if cut off tuber a stem, usually underground, enlarged as a storage organ and with minute scale-like leaves and buds or "eyes". Some monocotyledons e.g. Thysanotus develop thickened roots called tuberous roots. adj. tuberous tubercle a wart-like protuberance.

adj. tuberculate tuft a densely packed cluster arising from an axis. adj. tufted turbinate subshrub; a small, usually sparsely branched woody shrub less than 1 m high. cf. shrub undulate with an edge or edges wavy in a vertical plane; may vary from weakly to strongly undulate or crisped. cf. crisped unifoliolate a compound leaf which has been reduced to a single, usually terminal leaflet uniform with one form, e.g. having stamens of a similar length or having one kind of leaf. cf. dimorphic uniseriate arranged in one line or at one level unisexual with one sex only, either bearing the anthers with pollen, or an ovary with ovules, referring to a flower, inflorescence or individual plant. cf. bisexual urceolate meeting without overlapping, usually referring to sepals or petals in bud. cf.

imbricate valve one of the parts produced by the splitting of a capsule when ripe or a part of the specialised opening of a capsular fruit variant any definable individual or group of individuals which may or may not be regarded as representing a formal taxon after scrutiny variegate diverse in colour or marked with irregular patches of different colours variety a classificatory rank below that of subspecies vein a strand of vascular tissue velum a flap of tissue covering the sporangium in Isoetes velutinous covered with a close silky coating of short fine hairs which are erect and of even length. cf. sericeous venation the arrangement of veins in a leaf vernation the arrangement of young leaves or fronds in a bud or at a stem apex, e.g. erect or circinnate, q.v. verrucose

Question: What is the shape of something described as reniform?
Answer: KIDNEY SHAPED